Major Jobs Announcement in Jasper Today

Jasper Engines and Transmissions announced it is purchasing the former-Kimball Plastics manufacturing facility on Power Drive to facilitate an expansion of its operations in Dubois County.

Jasper Engines Chairman and CEO Doug Bawel welcomed Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann and local officials at Noon today (Wednesday) in announcing the company’s plans to expand its footprint in Jasper, Indiana and add 235 jobs by 2017. The reinvestment in the manufacturing facility located at 1220 Power Drive is expected to be in operation by this fa

Jasper Engines & Transmissions plans to invest $6.9 million to renovate and equip the 220,000 square foot vacant building located just southwest of its current 367,000 square-foot facility at 815 Wernsing Road in Jasper.

The additional facility will become the new home of Jasper Engines’ Transmission Division.

Chairman and CEO Doug Bawel said, “When looking at our options for expansion, no other place measured up to the business climate in Indiana.”

Jasper Engines currently employs more than 2,600 associates throughout the United States, including more than 1,445 in Indiana. The company has already begun advertising for positions in manufacturing, maintenance, information technology, distribution, engineering and quality control positions in Jasper.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Jasper Engine Exchange, Inc. up to $1,150,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $200,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives.

The project is contingent upon Jasper Engines receiving real and personal property tax abatement from the City of Jasper. The Jasper Economic Development Commission and the Jasper Common Council are both scheduled to meet Friday morning to consider the tax abatement. The Economic Development Commission meeting starts at 8 a.m. with the common council meeting to follow at 8:30 a.m. in the Jasper Council Chamber.

This is the second purchase and reuse of a large facility on Jasper’s south side. Stens purchased and transformed the former Columbus Container building into the company’s headquarters and central warehouse in 2012-13. Jasper Engines expansion will remove another 220,000 of commercial real estate from the local market.